Joint and dowel assembly unit



D. H. EXTNEY JOINT AND DOWEL ASSEMBLY UNIT Filed NOV. 27, 1936 INVENT OR.

ewe? 6HL/767 56h/MM ATTORNEY 3 Patented Mar. S, 1940 UNITED 'STATES PAT-ENT' QF'FIACE'V,

Jom'rmnosllssanmnrum I: "sii iatbzsstassiutre f Application November 27, 1936, Serial No; 112,399; K n

11 Claim.-

This invention relates to improvements in joint and dowel assembly units. j

'Ihe main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a pavement joint and dowel assembly unit suitable to space and support: joint dowels such as are commonly used in conjunction with pavement joints of the expansion and contraction type.

Second, to provide an assembly unit` of thc l0 type described. which may be completely assembled as a unit and then placed in position.

Third, to provide a reinforcesupport of the type described, characterized by the fact that it accommodates the movement ofadjacent slabs 16 or sections of pavement due to the eii'ect of he'at and cold. i

Fourth, to provide a device ofthe character described, which issimple in its construction and very convenient to use. -l

Fifth, to provide a pavement joint assembly unit equipped with novel and 'improved means for securing the dowel bars in proper position;

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed out in the claims.` f 1 j Preferred embodiments of the invention are illustratedin the accompanying drawing. wherein:

3o Fig. 1 is a fragmentary sectional view of a pavement through the joint-of adjacent pavingslabs, illustrating the improved joint assembly in .operative relation thereto. l

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view, adowel and the joint filler being shown in dotted lines. f

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view sectioned on line 3 3 of Fig. 1 and with parts broken away to better illustratestructure.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary'view partially in horizontal section. j

Fig. 5 is a detail plan view of a modlned form of cross bar or chair. y Y f Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view partially broken away and illustrating a modiiied form of my invention. Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view in section on line l--l of Fig. 6. f .g

A common diiilculty-infhighway or pavement construction is encountered vin an endeavor to locate and maintain in horizontal position and at right angles to a pavement joint the dowel bars which are used for holding adjoiningsec- ,tionsl of the pavement in alinement.

of wires or light rod so arrangedor assembled and Welded `or ilxedly' securedtogether 'as' to provide a supporting, spacingl and locking `device for such dowels.

One of the majoradvantages ofthe invention 5 resides in thefact that anfassembly unit will permit the complete assembly' o'f'fther dowels with the unit and also with the joint viller material commonlyv employed, at the side of the highway or street so thatthe entire assemblycan'b'e car# 10 ried from the piace of assembly and arranged in position without further adjustment or labor.

In the drawing, the reference numeral I indicates adjacent pavement sections or slabs spaced to permit expansion and contraction. the Ljoint 15 space being filled with the'iiller Icommonly oi' asphalt or other suitable material or composition. The ller illustrated is apre-molded -iiller My assembly unit comprises a plurality of 20 cross bars or transverse members 3 spaced at regular intervals-in practice approximatelyy one foot spacing is found suitable-lengthwise ofthe pavement joint or transversely of the pavement.

The cross bars are formed of heavy wire or g5 light rod and are provided with upstanding legs or supports 4 to which the longitudinal bars 5 are welded, these longitudinal bars being` connected toa series vof the legs of the cross bars, holding the cross bars in upright position.

The cross bars are provided with vertical pins l which are welded tothe cross bars as' indicated at 1 with thelrupper ends projecting above the cross bars and suitably spaced to receive and -trated' in Figs. 1 to 4, these pins are extended below the .Across bars .to provide anchoring prongs or members 8 adapted tobe forcedinto the roadbed or the bed upon which the paving slabs are laid. The cross bars are adapted to rest o upon the roadbed. The extension of these pins below the rods is, however, an optional matter and in some instances they are not desired, but

in allinstances the unit is very stable because of the several cross bars being connectedtogether 5 and held in properly spaced relation. The dowels illustrated are of the telescoping type, the section I0 being tubular to receive the section I I. Dowels of this type are well known in the` artand are designed to permit relative 50 movement of the adjacent pavingslabs or sections as results fromV expansion and contraction due to substantial changes vin temperature; ,A

To-provide means forquickly and securely reytainingtbeffiowels in position, `the unit is pro- 55 vided with a pair of opposed spring clips for each dowel, these spring-clips having loops I2 at their outer ends formed with a long arm I3 and a short arm I4. The short arms are secured to the longitudinal bars by welding as at I5, the long arms not being secured, which permits a greater spring action and minimizes the tendency for the joint to be broken when the long arms are sprung up and outwardly to engage the dowels. The long ams are provided with iingers or laterally disposed terminals* I6 adapted to engage the top of the dowels as is clearly shown in the drawing.

The arms of the clips are suitably ,-spaced, to

receive the dowel between thenifan'd'have upward oisets I1 disposed at the inner side of .the longitudinal bars, the bights of the 'clip's being 'downwardly offset at I8 so that -in assembling the dowels it is only necessary to lift'u'p the clip fingers I6 and place the dowels in these-*seats providedby theclips. `This .enables ,the .rapid assembly of '-thev dowels, and at the same time they are very securely Aanchored in position.

To permit movement of the adjacent paving slabs or sections asv they contractand expand, the cross-bars are iormedwitn-a fracturing point I9 located inthe zoneof. the filler stripgor in the zone of the joint. ,This fracturing point is preferablyprovided by notching the cross bars'3 as shown atlIl. Itwill beunderstood that the. tion of the cross bars embedded in the concrete will move or tend to moveV with the paving sections or slabsas they expand and contract.

By "providing'the barsfwith their fracturing points fin :the zone of the -joint,-the barsv are fractured when va substantial 'relative movement of the slabs occurs without fractur-ing'4 or breaking the concrete many-way, and this fracturing does not in any wise affect the function ofA the 'chair' structure which .is of .course. mainly the supporting of the dowel-bars and location o f; the joint strip preliminary to and duringthe pouring oi'ltheconcrete.v "1

In theembodiment shown in Fig. 5, twonotches 2-I 'are' provided slightly' offsetfrom each other, leaving a' fracturing portion r22.' These notches are preferably on the-sides of the cross' bars, considered relative to the vertical, so that thev cross bars are not likely to be broken in handling or in positioning 'in use. The notches might be in the form of saw kerfs, and other means vof lweakening the bars at the proper point would be recognized by those' skilled in the 'art to4 which this inven tion relates. v z In Figs. 6 and 7, I illustrate a; further form of my invention embody-lng a pair of cross bar members 23 each carrying'an upstanding leg or support- I, which-membersmay be in the form of heavy wire or light rod's. The dowels are .carried on longitudinal bars welded` to legs 4 as described above.` v- 5 The members 23 have'the horizontal'portions thereof in mutually facing relation and joined by 'a U-shaped wire element 2l whose legs are welded to the crossbars as indicated in Figs; '6 and '7. Element 2l is weakened at a' fracturing point 25 by ntching the base ofthe ufsbaped element as indicated' in-Figf. Movementof vthev concrete in either direction will cause fracturing Aof the wire element sothat the cross-bars .23may move likewise.` The upstanding llegs'of the 'VU-shaped element serve to locate and lsupport'the :joint strip 2. l'

My improvedvpavement joint assembly promotes uniformity of pavement construction 'insusmuch as it permits the `assembly of the whole unit at the side of the pavement prior to the placing thereof in position on the roadbed and avoids the necessity for making individual adjustments at each point of support of the dowel, The assembly may be very economically produced, is light in weight, and can be made in proper lengths for use in highways of different widths. I preferably secure the parts by welding, which further leadsto uniformity of results.`

' I have illustrated and described my improvements in embodiments which I have found highly satisfactory. I have not attempted to illustrate ,.or fdescribe other embodiments or adaptations which I contemplate as it is believed that this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to 'embody or adapt'my improvements as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

v1."In 'a pavement joint assembly for support.

ing joint dowels, a plurality of cross bars spaced lengthwise of the joint and adapted to rest on the roadbed and having legs upstanding at their ends, pins Welded to said cross bars in spaced relation and adapted to serve .as ,'oint filler supports, said cross bars being weakened between said pins providing fracturing points at the joint, longitudinal bars welded to the legs of the cross bars and constituting dowel supports, and spring clips having loops .at their outer ends disposed transversely of said longitudinal bars, said clips havingrelatively long and short arms, the short arms only of said loops being welded to said longitudinal bars, the long arms of the clips terminating Yin laterally turned dowel engaging members, the arrnsof .the clips being spaced to receive a dowel between them and, .being upwardly offset at the inner-sides of the longitudinal bars and thebights of the loops being downwardly offset providingl -dowel seats.

2. :In apavement joint assembly for supporting joint dowels, a plurality of cross bars spaced lengthwise of lthejoint andvadapted to rest on the roadbed and having legs upstanding at their ends, pins welded to said -cross bars in spaced relation and adapted to serve as joint filler supports, longitudinal bars welded to the legs of the cross bars and constituting dowel supports, and spring clipsv having loops atv their outer ends disposed transversely O f saidlongitudinal bars, said clips having relatively long and short arms, the short arms only of -said loops being welded to said longitudinal bars, the long arms of the clips terminating in laterally turned dowel engaging members, the arms of the clips being spaced to receive a dowel betweenthem and being upwardly offset at the inner sides of the longitudinal bars and the bights of the loops being downwardly .oifset providing dowel seats.

3. In a pavement joint assembly for supporting joint dowels, a plurality of cross .bars spaced lengthwise'of the joint and adapted to rest on the roadbed and having legs upstanding at their ends, pins, secured to said cross bars in spaced relation and adapted t0 serve as joint filler supports, said cross bars being weakened between said pins providing-fracturingv points at the joint, longitudinal bars secured to the legs of the cross bars and constituting dowel supports, and spring clips secured to said longitudinal bars and having loops at their outer ends disposed transversely of said longitudinal bars and secured thereto, one of the arms of. they clips terminating in laterally turned dowel engaging members, the arms of the clips being spaced to receive a dowel between them and being upwardly offset at the `inner sides of the longitudinal bars and the bights of the loops being downwardly oiset providing dowel seats.

4. In a pavement joint assembly for supporting joint dowels, a plurality of cross bars spaced lengthwise of the joint and adapted to rest on.

the roadbed and having legs upstanding at their ends, pins secured to said cross bars in spaced relation and adapted to serve as joint ller supports, longitudinal bars secured to the legs of the cross bars and constituting dowelsupports, and spring clips secured to said longitudinal bars and having loops at their outer ends disposed transversely of said longitudinal bars and secured thereto, one of the arms of the clips terminating in laterally turned dowel engaging members, the arms of the clips being spaced to receive a dowel between them and `being upwardly oiset at the inner sides of the longitudinal bars and the bights of the loops beingdownwardly oiset providing dowel seats.

5. In a pavement joint assembly for supporting joint dowels, a plurality ofcross bars spaced lengthwise of the joint and provided with upstanding supports, said cross bars being partially severed at the zone of the joints providing fracturing points at the joint, longitudinal bars secured to the cross bars and constituting dowel supports, and spring clips secured to said longisaid rods at right angles thereto and adapted to pass through said filler, means for holding said dowels in assembled position, comprising U- shaped spring tie clips looped about the dowels and resiliently pressing them against said rods, and means for supporting said rods, comprising U-shaped cross bars adapted to rest on the roadbed, said cross bars being welded to said rods and having weakened portions within the joint to permit expansion and contraction.

'7. In a pavement joint assembly for supporting joint dowels, a plurality of cross bars spaced lengthwise of the joint and adapted to rest on the roadbed and having legs upstanding attheir ends, pins secured to said cross bars in spaced relation and adapted to serve as joint ller supports, said cross bars having notches between said pins providing fracturing points at the joint, longitudinalbars secured to the legs of the cross bars and constituting dowel supports, and spring clips having loops at their outerends disposed transversely of said longitudinal bars, said clips having relatively long and short arms, the short arms only of said loops being secured to said longitudinal bars, the long arms of the clips terminating in laterally turned dowel engaging members.

8. In a pavement joint assembly for supporting joint dowels, a plurality of cross bars spaced lengthwise of the joint and adapted to rest on the roadbed and having legs upstanding at their ends, pins secured to said cross bars in spaced relation and adapted to serve as joint ller sup- .ports, said cross bars having notches between said .pins providing fracturing points at and entirely within the zone of the joint, and longituand constituting dowel supports.

9.Y In a pavement joint assembly for supporting joint dowels, a plurality of cross bars spaced tudinal bars and having loops at their outer ends .disposed transversely of said longitudinal bars, said clips having relatively long arms terminating in laterally turned dowel engaging members.- l

l0'. A support for joint dowels comprising a bar adapted to rest on the roadbed transversely of the joint and having upstanding legs at its ends, dowel supports carried by said upstanding ends, and pins secured to said bar in spaced relation and adapted to serve asa joint ller support,` said bar having a notch between said pins providing Ia fracturing point at and within the zone of the joint.

11. A support for joint dowels comprising a bar adaptedl to be disposed transversely of the joint and provided with dowel supports, and pins secured to said bar in spaced relation and adaptled to serve as a joint filler support, said bar having a notch between said pins providing a `fracturing point at and within the zone of the dinal bars secured to the legs of the cross bars I 

